Parking lot snow removal is the essential process of clearing snow and ice from commercial parking areas. It ensures your property remains safe and functional throughout the winter.
Why is this critical for your business?
Snow-kissed parking lots can quickly become a significant challenge, changing a beautiful winter scene into a hazardous and costly problem. For commercial property managers, a clear and safe parking lot isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a critical component of business operations and risk management.
Scott McLeod, owner of McLeod Landscaping Inc., has over three decades of experience providing trusted commercial and residential landscaping services, including expert parking lot snow removal in the Merrimack Valley. His team is committed to ensuring properties remain safe, accessible, and functional throughout the winter months. In this guide, we’ll dive into mastering the strategies and understanding the costs involved, helping you steer winter with confidence.
Parking lot snow removal word roundup:
When winter arrives, the question isn’t “if” snow will fall, but “when” and “how much.” For commercial properties, this isn’t just a matter of convenience; it’s a critical aspect of daily operations and long-term success. A well-executed parking lot snow removal plan is paramount, ensuring your business stays open, safe, and welcoming.
A clear parking lot is more than just an empty space; it’s a testament to your commitment to safety and customer service.
Safety First: Our top priority is preventing accidents. Even a small amount of snow or any ice can create dangerous slip-and-fall hazards for your employees, customers, and visitors. Did you know that over 90% of walkway injuries occur with less than an inch of snow? This highlights the importance of thorough and timely clearing. By proactively addressing snow and ice, we help you reduce potential injuries and keep everyone safe on your property.
Uninterrupted Operations: Winter weather can grind business operations to a halt. When your parking lot is impassable, customers can’t reach you, deliveries can’t be made, and employees struggle to get to work. Professional parking lot snow removal ensures your doors stay open, business continues as usual, and your operations remain uninterrupted, even during heavy snowfall.
Protecting Your Pavement: Beyond accessibility, proper snow removal techniques and equipment protect your valuable pavement. Improper plowing, using the wrong blades, or aggressive techniques can damage asphalt and concrete surfaces, leading to costly repairs down the line. Our methods are designed to clear snow efficiently while preserving the integrity of your property’s infrastructure.
Avoiding Lawsuits: Slip-and-fall lawsuits are a significant concern for property owners during winter. The liability for uncleared sidewalks and hazardous parking lots typically falls on the property owner. By investing in professional parking lot snow removal, you’re not just clearing snow; you’re actively minimizing your risk of expensive legal battles and protecting your business’s reputation. It’s a key part of comprehensive Winter Property Maintenance.
First Impressions: Your parking lot is often the first impression a customer has of your business. A clean, well-maintained lot, even in winter, speaks volumes about your attention to detail and care for your patrons. It says, “We’re open, we’re safe, and we value your visit.” This positive first impression can significantly impact customer satisfaction and retention.
Think of winter property management as more than just a quick shovel or plow run. It’s a carefully planned dance with Mother Nature, ensuring every corner of your commercial property stays safe, accessible, and ready for business. It’s about a comprehensive strategy custom just for you!
When we talk about parking lot snow removal, often the first thing that comes to mind is plowing. It’s important to understand the distinction between plowing and what we call snow removal or hauling.
Plowing is like the initial sweep, where our powerful trucks and heavy equipment push the snow from active areas to designated spots. This includes things like:
Plowing is incredibly efficient for initial clearing and keeping your property accessible during a storm. However, for properties with limited space, those snow piles can quickly become a problem, taking up valuable parking spots or blocking important sightlines.
That’s where Snow Removal (or Snow Hauling) steps in. After we’ve gathered the snow through plowing, we don’t just leave it there. Instead, we physically load it onto dump trucks and transport it completely off-site to a designated snow disposal facility. This service is crucial for:
While snow removal is a more comprehensive service and typically more costly than just plowing, it provides a higher level of convenience and ensures your property remains fully functional. For more details on comprehensive snow management, explore our Commercial Snow Removal services.
Ice can be even trickier than snow, often hiding in plain sight! That’s why our approach to ice control is two-pronged: we prevent it when we can, and we treat it effectively when we must.
Our favorite strategy is anti-icing. Imagine putting a non-stick coating on your parking lot before the storm hits! We apply liquid de-icers, like liquid brine, to pavement surfaces ahead of winter weather. The goal is simple: to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement in the first place. This makes subsequent plowing much easier and more efficient. Anti-icing is not only super effective but also remarkably efficient, often using less material and costing less than traditional de-icing methods.
Once snow or ice has already accumulated and bonded to the surface, we switch to de-icing. This is where we apply granular de-icing agents like rock salt (sodium chloride) to melt away the stubborn ice. While very effective, especially for breaking that icy grip, we use it strategically, as its power wanes significantly when pavement temperatures drop below 15°F.
We also use smart variations like pre-wetted salt, which is dry salt moistened with a liquid solution (like brine) right before application. This clever hybrid approach jump-starts the melting process and helps the salt stick to the pavement, reducing bounce and scatter. For those super-cold days when traditional de-icers aren’t as effective, or when immediate grip is needed, we can also use sand application to provide temporary traction on icy surfaces.
For environmentally sensitive areas or properties concerned about the corrosive effects of traditional salts (especially in parking garages), we offer excellent alternatives like Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA). CMA is less corrosive to concrete and metals and is safer for surrounding vegetation. We ensure we use the right product for the right application, always considering the long-term health of your property. For a deeper dive into preventing icy conditions, explore our Ice Control Services.
A truly safe and accessible property means every single path, every corner, is clear. Our comprehensive site management ensures no spot is overlooked, covering all the areas where people and vehicles move.
This means meticulous care for your main parking lots, of course, ensuring smooth flow for vehicles and pedestrians. But it also includes ensuring your sidewalks are safe for everyone walking to and from your building, that all entryways are welcoming and clear for your visitors, and that crucial operational areas like loading docks and emergency exits are always accessible. We even pay attention to details like catch basin clearing, making sure drains are free of ice and snow to prevent dangerous pooling and refreezing.
We understand that different areas of your property have unique needs. For instance, clearing sidewalks requires specific equipment and techniques to ensure thoroughness and safety. Learn more about the Best Commercial Sidewalk Snow Removal Equipment we use to ensure every path is safe and accessible.
Efficiency and precision are key to successful parking lot snow removal. We combine proven methods with state-of-the-art equipment to get the job done right, every time.
Our snow removal experts employ a variety of techniques custom to the specific layout and size of your parking lot.
Angle Plowing (with Wings): This is often the most efficient method for large and small lots alike. Angle plowing with wings clears about 30 percent more snow per pass than wingless plowing and is 50 percent more efficient than a standard, rubber-edged pusher. This technique allows for continuous flow and containment of snow, reducing the need for multiple passes.
Backdragging: Essential for clearing snow away from buildings, overhead doors, and tight spaces where a forward pass isn’t feasible. We pull the snow away from the structure, then push it to a designated windrow or pile.
Sectional Plowing: For very large parking lots, we break the area down into smaller, manageable sections. This systematic approach ensures no area is missed and allows for more efficient clearing, maintaining accessibility throughout the process.
Plowing with the Storm: If a significant amount of snow is expected, we don’t wait for it all to accumulate. We plow with the storm, making multiple passes during the snowfall. This prevents excessive buildup, keeps the lot usable, and makes the final cleanup much easier.
Wind Direction Consideration: Our operators are trained to consider wind direction when plowing and piling snow. By piling snow downwind, we minimize future drifting back onto cleared areas, saving time and resources.
Obstacle Management: Parking lots are full of obstacles – light poles, parked cars, gas pumps, dumpsters, and curbs. Our team is meticulous in identifying and working around these features, using techniques like setting plow blades a minimum of 1/2 inch above sensitive materials like expansion joints to prevent damage. We also ensure adequate space is left between parked vehicles and snow piles.
Want to see efficiency in action? Watch An animated video demonstrating plow efficiency.
We invest in a comprehensive fleet of modern, well-maintained equipment to handle any winter challenge. This ensures speed, efficiency, and quality for your parking lot snow removal.
We are committed to not only clearing your property but also doing so in an environmentally responsible manner. Our practices aim to minimize the impact of salt and other de-icing agents on local waterways and vegetation.
Salt Reduction: Over-application of salt can harm the environment, infrastructure, and even pavement. We prioritize smart application practices to reduce overall salt usage. Studies show that closed-loop electronic controllers on salt spreaders can result in salt savings of up to 47% compared to manually controlled systems. However, less than 10% of parking lot contractors currently use ground speed controllers. We believe in leveraging technology for more precise application.
Pre-wetting Salt: By pre-wetting dry salt with liquid brine, we improve its effectiveness, allowing us to use less material while achieving better results. Pre-wetted salt has been shown to reduce snow cover by 17.9% to 40% more than dry salt.
Anti-icing Cost Savings: Our proactive anti-icing strategy is not only effective but also environmentally conscious. As noted earlier, anti-icing typically requires only a quarter of the material and one-tenth of the cost compared to conventional de-icing, significantly reducing the amount of salt released into the environment.
Calibrated Spreaders and Ground-Speed Controllers: Our equipment is regularly calibrated to ensure accurate application rates. Furthermore, we strive to use ground-speed controllers on our spreaders. These systems automatically adjust the salt output based on the vehicle’s speed, preventing over-application and ensuring optimal coverage.
Protecting Local Waterways: Excess salt runoff from parking lots can contaminate local rivers, streams, and groundwater. By adopting practices like reduced application rates, pre-wetting, and anti-icing, we minimize this runoff, contributing to healthier ecosystems in the Merrimack Valley and beyond. For more in-depth information on sustainable winter maintenance, refer to the Guidance on sustainable winter maintenance.
Understanding the financial aspect of parking lot snow removal is crucial for effective budgeting and selecting the right service provider. The cost can vary significantly based on the services you need and the specifics of your property.
Snow removal contractors typically offer several pricing models. Understanding these can help you choose the best fit for your budget and risk tolerance. Please note that the prices mentioned below are general industry averages based on market research and are not a quote from McLeod Landscaping. Actual costs can vary significantly.
Several factors will influence the final price of your snow removal contract:
By understanding these factors, you can better evaluate quotes and choose a snow removal plan that fits your needs and budget. For a precise quote custom to your property, it’s always best to contact us directly.
Contact McLeod Landscaping today at (978) 640-0957 or click here to schedule a consultation for retaining wall installation. Let our experienced team design and install a functional and visually appealing retaining wall that enhances your landscape.
1881 Main St Unit 1, Tewksbury, MA 01876